Medical diagnosis apparatus with patient recognition

Abstract

Medical diagnosis apparatuses (and a respective method for using such apparatuses) are provided, particularly large apparatuses operated in a centralized manner, (e.g., MR scanners, CT tomographs or the like), characterized by a patient acquisition device assigned to it for acquiring individual distinctive identification features of the patient, which are automatically stored with the apparatus data obtained.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A medical diagnosis system, comprising: 
       a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus configured to record diagnostic image data results of a patient obtained from said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus on a medical data storage medium;  
       a biometric data recorder assigned to said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus configured to automatically acquire individual distinctive biometric identification data of a patient; and  
       a recording mechanism configured to contemporaneously record and combine said individual distinctive biometric identification data with said diagnostic image data results on said medical data storage medium during an examination.  
     
     
       2. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus is a large apparatus operated in a centralized manner selected from the group consisting of an MR scanner and a CT tomograph. 
     
     
       3. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation mechanism of said biometric data recorder, said biometric data recorder being connected to said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus that permits use of said medical diagnosis apparatus only after actuation of said biometric data recorder device. 
     
     
       4. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said biometric data recorder comprises a fingertip sensor. 
     
     
       5. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said biometric data recorder comprises an iris measuring device. 
     
     
       6. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said biometric data recorder comprises a camera. 
     
     
       7. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said camera is a digital camera. 
     
     
       8. The medical diagnosis system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a safeguard device with plausibility comparison structures that is connected downstream of said biometric data recorder permitting ascertainment of whether said individual distinctive biometric identification data acquisition was successful. 
     
     
       9. A method for performing a medical diagnosis, comprising: 
       providing a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus;  
       providing a biometric data recorder assigned to said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus;  
       automatically recording individual distinctive biometric data of a patient with said biometric data recorder on a medical data storage medium;  
       recording diagnostic image data results of said patient with said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus contemporaneously with said automatic recording of said individual distinctive biometric data during an examination; and  
       combining said individual distinctive biometric data and said diagnostic image data results on said medical data storage medium contemporaneously with said recording during said examination.  
     
     
       10. A method for performing a medical diagnosis, comprising: 
       providing a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus;  
       providing a biometric data recorder assigned to said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus;  
       automatically recording individual distinctive biometric data of a patient with said biometric data recorder on a medical data storage medium;  
       positioning said patient on a couch or table; and  
       acquiring a digital signature of an individual distinctive biometric feature related to said individual distinctive biometric data of said patient prior to recording diagnostic image data results;  
       inspecting said digital signature;  
       recording diagnostic image data results of the patient with said medical diagnostic imaging apparatus contemporaneously with said automatic recording of said individual distinctive biometric data during an examination only if said digital signature matches previously recorded data for said biometric feature stored on said medical data storage medium; and  
       combining said individual distinctive biometric data and said diagnostic image data results on a medical data storage medium contemporaneously with said recording during said examination.